03/23/2016
The ARRL Board of Directors' HF Band Planning Committee is inviting input from
the US Amateur Radio community regarding possible changes to the International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU[1]) Region 2 Band Plan[2]. That band plan and other
significant Amateur Radio spectrum issues will be high on the agenda at this
fall's IARU Region 2 General Assembly in Chile. Leading up to that gathering,
the ARRL and other IARU member societies in the Americas will be seeking
comments and suggestions regarding the Region 2 HF Band Plan. The HF Band
Planning Committee will review the current plan, consider comments from the US
Amateur Radio community, and recommend any changes to the ARRL Board for
submission to IARU Region 2.
"The ARRL HF Band Planning Committee wants to stress that the IARU Region 2
Band Plan is a voluntary guideline and does not supersede FCC regulations
related to spectrum usage," Committee Chairman and ARRL Second Vice President
Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, noted. He also pointed out two other issues for radio
amateurs to consider.
o Most Region 2 countries outside the US do not have the sort of detailed
sub-band regulations contained in the FCC's Part 97. For radio amateurs in
these countries, the Region 2 Band Plan may serve as the only source of
guidance on spectrum usage.
o The designation of a calling frequency or band segment for a particular
purpose or mode in any IARU band plan does not convey any special rights or
exclusivity of use. On the other hand the absence of a calling frequency or
band segment associated with a particular purpose or mode should not suggest
that these have been overlooked or are viewed negatively.
The Committee is urging US radio amateurs who are considering suggesting
revisions to the IARU Region 2 Band Plan first to study the existing IARU
Region 2 Band Plan[3]. They then should formulate a clear statement of any
proposed changes, including a brief explanation of why each particular change
would benefit all IARU Region 2 spectrum users. Participants should include
name and call sign. Submit[4] input via e-mail by June 1, 2016. Messages will
be automatically acknowledged.
Radio amateurs licensed in Region 2 countries other than the US should contact
their own IARU member society[5] for information on how to participate in the
band-planning process.
The 19th IARU Region 2 General Assembly[6] will take place in mid-October in
Viña del Mar, Chile. Held every 3 years, the Region 2 Conference is attended by
delegations from IARU member societies in throughout the Americas.
[1] http://www.iaru.org/
[2] http://www.iaru-r2.org/band-plan/
[3] http://www.iaru-r2.org/band-plan/
[4] mailto:bandplan2016@arrl.org
[5] http://www.iaru-r2.org/directory/
[6] http://chile2016.info/en/
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